Nurturing faith and Quaker practice

Gunpowder Friends Meeting

We are a community grounded in Quaker Practice, rooted in Christian Faith, and growing through our commitment to the ongoing spiritual lives of our members and attenders.

Welcome to the website of Gunpowder Friends Meeting. We invite you to spend some time with us, whether it is exploring our meeting and Quakerism on these pages, or in person on a Sunday! Gunpowder is just north of Hunt Valley, Maryland, in the scenic Sparks area.

We extend a welcome to visitors of all faiths who are interested in sharing quiet time in worship with us. Sunday (First Day) worship is held in our simply appointed meeting room, unless you happen to come on a day when the weather is perfect for sitting outside. Then you will find us sitting on the back porch, overlooking the vista before us.

Gunpowder is an active, diverse community, offering opportunities for spiritual enrichment and friendship. Our children and youth are very active too, with lots of things to do in their First Day School community.

About Quaker Worship

The heart of the Quaker way is the silent meeting for worship. We seek a communal gathered stillness, where we can be open to inspiration from the Spirit of God. In our meetings we find both peace of mind and challenging insights, deep community and a renewed sense of individual purpose, and joy to wonder at God’s creation. Not everyone finds the word “God” helpful – some Quakers use a different image or concept such as “spirit” or “the light”.

A Quaker meeting creates a space of gathered stillness. We come together where we can listen to the promptings of truth and love in our hearts, which we understand as rising from God. Our meetings are based on silence: a silence of waiting and listening. Most meetings last for about an hour.

Members & Attenders

Travel Directions to Gunpowder:

Sparks is about 21 miles north of Baltimore on the Harrisburg Expressway (I-83). Gunpowder Meeting is west of Sparks and west of I-83. Exit I-83 at Belfast Road (Exit 24), turn west toward Butler. Go one-third mile to Priceville Road; left on Priceville Road for one mile. Where Priceville Road turns right and Quaker Bottom Road continues ahead at the crest of a steep grade, make a sharp right turn into the Meeting House drive.